The JH Book Club expanded for 2025 to include two groups and opened up to all team members. Once a month, the groups met to discuss the book for the year.
Impact Players: How to Take the Lead, Play Bigger, and Multiple Your Impact
Brief summary: In every organization, there are Impact Players—those indispensable colleagues who can be counted on in critical situations and who consistently receive high-profile assignments and new opportunities. Whether they are on center stage or behind the scenes, managers know who these top players are, understand their worth, and want more of them on their team. While their impact is obvious, it’s not always clear what actually makes these professionals different from their peers. Drawing on insights from leaders at top companies, Wiseman explains what the most influential players are doing differently, how small and seemingly insignificant differences in how we think and act can make an enormous impact, and why—with a little coaching—this mindset is available to everyone who wants to contribute at their highest level.
We asked each team member to share one key takeaway - the thing that stood out the most - from this book. Here's what they had to say ...
Nate - Senior Project Manager
This book was truly eye-opening for me and gave me a deeper understanding of both the team and myself. What stood out most were the distinct tendencies of Impact Players and Contributors. Reading Impact Players provided valuable insight into how to further develop existing Impact Players and help Contributors grow into Impact Players. Moving forward, I’m committed to applying what I’ve learned and supporting those around me in their own growth.
Lucas - Account Manager
The biggest takeaway for me is that “impact” isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter in moments that matter. Impact Players anticipate needs, take initiative, and help the whole team succeed, especially when things get messy.
Allison - Director of Project Management
This was my second time reading Impact Players. The first time was as an individual contributor who wanted to be an impact player and the second time was as a manager who wants a team of impact players. As a manager, it's about giving a safe space for team members step up to take on larger projects, being direct about top priorities, and giving feedback for the next opportunity so those around me can continue to become impact players.
Anna - Project Manager
Reading Impact Players reminded me of the essential role each person plays within a team, and how important it is to share a common vision and focus. Recognizing “what’s important now” and aligning our efforts accordingly can drive meaningful progress for both the individual and the group. The book also made me reflect on the flexibility of our roles and how growth often stems from being willing to step beyond our job descriptions to support the team in achieving results.
Evan - Senior Designer
The biggest takeaway from the book that I would like to live out with greater confidence is leading with humility. “Impact players” have a service mindset driven by a desire to make things better, rather than a “Contributor” mindset that takes on the “it’s not my job” mentality. Humility reframes how we approach situations by viewing opportunities through others’ perspectives, allows us to speak with purpose and intentionality, and reminds us that our identity is not wrapped up in our job, but rather our commitment to make an impact in the lives around us.
Carissa - Digital Marketing Specialist
While reading Impact Players, my biggest takeaway is knowing when to step up—and when to step down. It’s about stepping up to the plate when your contribution is needed, and then stepping aside to let others shine, showcasing their skills to move the project across the finish line. Doing this thoughtfully allows us to deliver stronger, more meaningful work that creates a positive impact for both our clients and our team.
Alex - Content Manager
My main takeaway from Impact Players is the value of making work lighter for others. I try to do this by jumping in when someone needs a hand, whether that means helping my team with our daily tasks or supporting Project Managers with Content Integration. Helping to ease the workload lets me support others while continuing to learn and grow in my role.
Craig - Director of EMT
Impact Players showed what is possible when you view work with an opportunity lens. “Through this lens we take a broader view, seeing options and reasons to take them”. When faced with unclear roles, learn to step up to do what is needed. Finish the job and step back. Moving targets can show a reason to build new capabilities and unrelenting demands can show a need to work together.
To develop a champion team I plan to expand the guest list and to yield the right-of-way to a junior person.
James - Senior Developer
I think that what stood out to me the most is how well Impact Players articulated a lot of how I try to live into words. It’s nice to not just know what behaviors are helpful but to be able to put names to them; this makes them more actionable for me. The behaviors outlined aren’t just for work life, they’re for all life and I believe this book has and will continue to help make me a better employee, work leader, husband, father and friend.
Josh - Senior Web Designer
I was pleasantly surprised to hear how many on our team were intuitively doing what was in the book (before reading it), because they felt it was the right way to work. It also seemed like a lot of us had reached the limit of where our instincts could take us. The book helped a lot of missing pieces fall into place, and I think we'll be working together even better moving forward.
Zach - Business Development
One of my biggest takeaways from Impact Players is how important it is to create space for open discussions about improving the workplace. When team members can share ideas and genuinely feel heard, it builds trust and a sense of value. When that happens as a team, everyone grows, learns, and levels up together.
Justin - Principal Developer
Courage is an essential part to making an impact. It allows you to step outside of yourself and see the true things that your fears wouldn't allow you to see. With courage problems become opportunities and you begin to have the resilience to take calculated risks, move into uncharted areas of work, and step up into messy roles when needed - allowing the team to keep moving past obstacles.
Chris P. - Strategic Account Director
The main theme that resonated most with me was one that a high school football coach once drilled into me — the importance of adapting in the face of adversity. Impact Players are learners who adjust quickly, not perfectionists who wait until they “know it all.” You don’t complain about the obstacle in front of you — you take it as a challenge and a test to overcome.
The lesson I know I need to focus on most is learning to finish strong. Average contributors complete tasks; Impact Players ensure outcomes. It’s not about checking the box but following through until the real result is achieved.
At the end of the day, life’s too short to constantly stress over the next issue or challenge. I want to help motivate others, keep things light, and make work enjoyable for the people around me. When we enjoy what we do — and who we do it with — that’s when real impact happens.
Marty - Senior Account Manager
One thing that I’ve implemented is recapping any and all emails when I need to forward. Rather than “see below”, I will write a brief summary that highlights the important pieces for my recipient. This not only saves time for all involved but also prevents a teammate from having to discern what is and what is not important.
Chris C. - Web Project Manager
My biggest takeaway is the idea of asking and adjusting. I need to look for opportunities to ask new questions and make adjustments as things change and evolve. Technologies are constantly changing so there will always be new questions to ask, or old questions to ask in a different way. As the questions are answered it's important to remain flexible and curious.
Tim D. - CTO
There are so many valuable lessons in this book, but two things really hit home for me. First, communicating the W.I.N. (What’s Important Now?) weekly to your team is incredibly beneficial – too often we assume others can read our minds, and then immediately turn around and wonder why priorities aren’t aligned. In a fast-paced agency environment, the focus changes rapidly to tackle the biggest opportunities (or threats), but that only works if it’s communicated properly across the board. Second, we are extremely lucky at JH to have so many impact players that it can easily be taken for granted; elevating hidden contributions and celebrating hard work is of utmost importance, as many of our “unsung heroes” so often make their difficult work look so easy that the casual observer assumes nothing is going on behind the scenes. This is the signature of a true Impact Player, and it needs to be recognized!
